Promising season for the blueberry of North America

12/04/2016

The next season of cranberry in North America has good prospects, according to Brian Bocock, of Naturipe Farms. The Florida crop will suffer a decline in total production this year, as well as delays, caused by a less favorable weather this winter.

The rest of the zones seem to have crops that are above average or above average, including states such as California, New Jersey, Georgia, Michigan, Washington, and British Columbia, in Canada. Last year, the delay was historic, but this season it seems that everything will arrive on time. The last cold temperatures that are being experienced in Michigan may influence the time of harvest and the size of the crop, but it is too early to determine if the impact will be substantial.

The ecological segment continues to grow

Organic products continue to rise, as more and more customers become loyal buyers of these.

«At this rate, I think that trend will continue to grow in the next three or four years, but it depends a lot on the state of the economy. In 2008 and 2009, when the US economy deteriorated, consumption of green products also suffered a drastic drop. As long as the economy is good or improving, that trend will continue. If there is another drop, the trend will falter."warns Bocock.

«In general, we see more demand for consumption of organic berries. Consumers also understand that green products cost more and are willing to pay the difference. This also helps producers feel more confident in the production of organic berries, since their production is more expensive and more variable.".

«Local crops also continue to perform well among consumers. As human beings, we have a natural inclination to help the people we know and are close to. We prefer products from our region, if not, those from our country, after which we trust in the product and the brand."explains Bocock.

Hortifrut and Michigan Blueberry Growers (MBG Marketing) decided to join forces in the 2000 year to create a 52 weeks program to be stronger, which has allowed Naturipe Farms to offer supply during the 52 weeks. With production in 18 different states, the company is also the only one in a position to satisfy the demand for products of proximity of the main national retailers in the United States.

More attention on the best varieties

Many regions of the United States are experiencing significant growth. Since the growth has continued and been consolidated in other areas, Brian believes that the blueberry industry will undergo a transformation in the next 15 or 20 years with its varieties.

aa2 (1) «Now that we supply 52 weeks, the challenge is to see how we can offer better quality blueberries. Companies like ours, with their own breeding programs, have invested a tremendous amount of effort to develop better varieties for the consumer, focusing primarily on flavor, overall berry quality, and then texture. This is probably one of the most important things we're working on right now."says Bocock.

'We are crossing current varieties in our traditional breeding programme, where we are trying to develop a better variety. We look at the full 52-week spectrum, across all varieties and each week of production, to see how we can cross one variety with another to create a better variety for the future. About 15 years pass from the time you make the first cross until you reach the final variety. There is no immediate return on investment, so the commitment is huge. "The company has been working on this program for the last 12 or 13 years, which I think was excellent foresight by the founding owners of Naturipe, and as a result we have an excellent breeding program.".

World knowledge of blueberries

Another important point of attention is to raise awareness of blueberries around the world.

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«Historically, blueberries have been especially successful in the United States and Canada, but there is a whole new world out there. For example, blueberry consumption in the United Kingdom has skyrocketed in the last 15 years. “The industry is focusing a lot on the global expansion of blueberries, which should drive demand and lead to a profitable market for blueberries.”.

«The flavor sets the tone, but the quality and texture follow closely. If I can have the best-tasting blueberry of all, but I can't ship it more than a 160-mile radius because it's soft and makes a mess, then it's not a viable variety. It's about finding a perfect mix of all those characteristics.", concludes Brian.

Source: Freshplaza.es